Automatic shear for cutting strip



Nov. 18, 1958 E. w. MIRICK AUTOMATIC SHEAR FOR comma STRIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1956 //V VE/V 70H.

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AUTOMATIC SHEAR FOR CUTTING STRIP Filed Jan. 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 h-h-alr 4 4111111111!!! MIME/V7019. EL/WER W. M/R/C/f,

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AUTOMATIC SHEAR FOR CUTTING STRIP Elmer W. Mirick, Worcester, Massi assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 11, 1956, Serial No. 558,571

4 Claims. (Cl.16 4--,47)

This invention relates to a shear for automatically cutting metal strip ahead of splices therein.

When metal strip is processed, individual strip lengths commonly are spliced together end-to-end to enable the operation to be continuous. As the strip leaves the processing line, it is again out into individual lengths which are coiled. Commonly the cuts are located immediately adjacent each side of the splices, which are eliminated from the coiled product.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shear which operates automatically in response to a splice for cutting strip ahead of the splice.

A further object is to provide a shear which not only cuts the strip, but includes means for automatically stopping the line until a new coil can be started.

A more specific object is to provide a shear which includes a slide actuated by arrival of a strip splice, and a switch for stopping the line and release means for the cutting elements both operated automatically when the slide is actuated.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a shear constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section on line II-II of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is cross section on line IIIIII of Figure 1.

My shear comprises an elongated box which houses a longitudinally movable slide 12. A longitudinal rod 13 is fixed between the entry and exit end walls of the box 10 and extends through a bore in the lower portion of the slide. A compression spring 14 surrounds said rod and bears between the slide and the exit end wall of the box so that the slide normally is held against the entry end wall. An upper roll 15 is journaled in the slide to rotate on a horizontal axis. An opposed lower roll 16 is journaled in a chock 17, which is supported for vertical movement in the slide on a pair of adjusting screws 18.

The exit end of the box 10 carries a vertically extending guideway 19 within which is mounted a fixed lower cutting blade 20 and a vertically movable upper cutting blade 21. A pair of compression springs 22 in the guideway 19 urge the blade 21 downwardly toward its cutting position. The top of the box 10 carries a horizontal guideway 23 within which is mounted a horizontally movable latch bar 24. A compression spring 25 normally holds said bar in a position where its end engages a notch 26 in the upper cutting blade 21 to hold this blade away from the lower blade 20 against the action of the springs 22. A U-shaped operating lever 27 is pivoted at 28 to the guideway 23 and at 29 to thelatch bar 24. A depending dog 30 is pivoted to the lever 27, also at 28, to bear against said lever when pushed toward the exit end of the box 10 or fold upwardly when pushed toward 2,860,704 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 ICC the entry end. The upper edge of the blade 21 carries a resetting handle 31.

One of the side walls of the box 10 carries an electric switch 32 for controlling the strip coiling equipment, which follows the shear but is not shown since it is of conventional construction. The switch has: an actuating lever 33 which projects into the box through an opening 34 in the wall of the latter.

In operation, the slide 12 and upper blade 21 initially are positioned as shown in Figure 1. A strip S, which contains a splice I, is threaded between the rolls 15 and 16 in the slide and between the blades 20 and 21 and thence to the coiling equipment. The screws 18 are adjusted to separate the rolls sufficiently to allow the strip to pass readily therebetween, but not to allow the splice to pass. Thus the strip passes through the shear unimpeded until the splice arrives at the rolls, whereupon the strip pulls the slide 12 toward the exit end of the box 10 against the action of the spring 14. As the slide passes the lever 33, it operates the switch 52 to stop the coiling equipment, although momentum continues to carry the strip and slide toward the exit end. Next the slide engages the dog 30 and turns the lever 27 counterclockwise about its pivot 28, whereupon the latch bar 24 is withdrawn from the notch 26 against the action of the spring 25. The springs 22 force the upper blade 21 downwardly and thus cut the strip S ahead of the splice J.

As soon as the strip is cut, the spring 14 returns the slide 12 to the position shown in Figure 1. As the slide passes the dog 30, the latter folds upwardly about pivot 28. The upper blade 21 is reset by lifting the handle 31. The strip is cut manually behind the splice after which the leading end is rethreaded through the shear and the operation repeated.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords a simple rugged device for automatically cutting a continuous strip ahead of a splice therein. The device can be used with conventional strip processing equipment without altering the latter in any way.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shear comprising a frame having entry and exit ends, a pair of cutting blades mounted adjacent the exit end of said frame, at least one of said blades being movable with respect to the other, a latch bar carried by said frame normally engaging said movable blade to hold it away from the other to allow a strip to pass therebetween, an operating lever for said latch bar pivoted to said frame, a slide housed in said frame for longitudinal movement, means urging said slide toward the entry end of said frame, and spaced apart rolls journaled on parallel horizontal axes in said slide allowing astrip to pass substan tially unimpeded but adapted to be engaged by a thickened portion in the strip to move said slide longitudinally of the frame toward the exit end, said slide being engage able with said operating lever for moving said latch bar and releasing said movable blade to cut the strip ahead of the thickened portion.

2. A shear as defined in claim 1 which includes an electric switch mounted on said frame and actuated by movement of said slide for stopping a strip passing through the shear.

3. A shear for cutting metal strip comprising a frame having entry and exit ends, a pair of cutting blades mounted adjacent the exit end of said frame, at least one of said blades being movable with respect to the other, a latch bar slidably mounted on said frame, spring means normally holding said latch bar in engagement with said movable blade and thereby holding said movable blade away from the other blade, a lever pivoted to said frame and to said latch bar, a dog pivoted to said lever and projecting into said frame for operating the leverwhen engaged on the side facing the entry end of 'said frame and being freely foldable with respect to the lever when' engaged o-n-the side facing the exit end of said fraine, a slide housed in said frame for longitudinal movement, means urging said slide toward the entry end of said frame and 'a pair of spaced apart rolls journaled on parallel horizontal axes in saidslide allowing a strip to pass therebetween substantially unimpeded 'but adapted to be engaged by a thickened portion in the strip to; move said slide longitudinally of the frame toward the exit end, said slide beingje'ngageable with said dog for releasing said latch bar from said movable blade to cut the strip ahead of the thickened portion;

4. A shear as defined in claim 3 which includes an electric switch mounted on said frameand actuatedlbylmovement of said slide for stopping a strip passing through the shear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 536,564 Creech Mar. 26, 1895 695,553 Henny Mar. 18, 1902 751,560 Robinson Feb. ,9, 1904 1,267,477 7 Bignell p 5, 1916 1,343,102 Weber Juno's, 1920 2,137,613 Hill et al. i Nov. 22, 1938 2,446,647 Frankwich Aug. 10, 1948 D urst Dec. 23, 19 52 

